House Clears Key Hurdle on Budget Resolution Despite Future Remaining Unclear

What Happened?

House Republicans cleared a key hurdle Tuesday on a budget resolution, that's aimed at supporting the Trump administration and funding priorities long-term.

The House advanced the resolution in a 217-211 procedural vote, leading the way for a final vote.

According to CBS News, only one Republican member did not vote while four Democrats were absent.

The proposal would unlock President Donald Trump's legislative agenda, which a handful of members reportedly opposed.

The plan includes up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit.

Spending cuts by at least $1.5 trillion is a focus the Trump administration has taken to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion over the next decade.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has been optimistic to move forward in these efforts as a crucial step in the budget reconciliation process.

This would expedite Trump's priorities surrounding border security, tax cuts, and energy policies.

'There's always more work to do right up to the end for a big vote like this and this is a big one,' Johnson told reporters.

Tax cuts would reportedly be scaled back in an amendment to the resolution if House committees don't achieve at least $2 trillion in spending cuts.

A measure that was made to appease conservatives.

The Senate adopted the budget late last week in a 52-48 vote.

Why it Matters

President Trump’s domestic policy priorities include an extension of his 2017 tax cuts.

Senate leaders previously issued a letter informing Trump that they would oppose the idea of a short-term renewal of expiring tax cuts.

Taxes would increase for Americans in every income group and nearly six million jobs would be at risk, according to the letter.

But the current draft proposed cuts to social services like Medicaid which has raised concerns on Capitol Hill.

The Energy and Commerce Committee, in charge of health care spending, is asked to cut $880 billion over the decade.

This also includes a $330 billion Education and Workforce Committee reduction in spending, a $230 billion reduction from agriculture, and transportation and infrastructure to find at least $10 billion in cuts through 2034.

Large-scale layoffs have been carried out by various departments as instructed by Trump’s order led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

How it Affects You

Some key GOP members have reportedly said they plan to vote against the measure when introduced to the House floor.

'If the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better,' said Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky on social media.

Others like Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana stated 'the situation is much worse than it sounds.'

Spartz added over the next decade, the country would accumulate $24 trillion of additional debt on top of $36 trillion reaching $60 trillion.

Senate Republicans have reportedly billed their own budget plan as a backup.

But it's unclear how the path towards a House budget adoption will result amid key GOP members still holding out.